Indicator board



Oct. 20, 1936.

o. R. HARTZELL INDICATOR BOARD Filed Dec. l`0, 19,54

INVENTOR ATTORNEY'.

gli'

CII

Patented1 0pt. 20, 1936 uNirn STATES PATENT CFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an indicator and particularly to a score indicator or score board.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a score board which by an easily manipulated or remote controlled movement shows a series of numerals or indicia indicating the score in a game by successively uncovering the appropriate numerals or signs of said series.

Another object of the invention is to provide a score indicator in which a series of separate marked boards or flaps are successively rendered visible to indicate the score, and which after each adjustment also renders visible the back face of one of said boards or flaps exposing to view the markings on the backs of said boards of flaps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a score indicator which is highly useful and simple in construction. Convenience of arrangement, lightness and comparative inexpense of manufacture are further objects which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the invention.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front View of my device.

Figure 2 is a side view of my device partly in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the conveyor and its edge of the device shown in Figure 1. 4

Figure 4 is a fragmental front view of another embodiment of my device, and

Figure 5 is a fragmental side view of said second embodiment of my device.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a preferably vertical frame having sides 5, connected by a base 6 at their lower ends, and by a top 'I at their upper ends. The to-p 'I is adapted to be hung on a hook on a wall not shown, but, if desirable, the frame may be set on its base 6.

In the frame between the sides 5 is disposed a H suitable endless conveyor 8. The conveyor 8 may be a double or single chain or a belt conveyor, but for purposes of illustration I show an endless belt conveyor made of canvas or the like which has reinforcing bands 9 around the edges thereof. Each band 9 is made of flexible metal or leather and has suitably spaced eyelets II placed thereinto. A transverse shaft I2 journalled in the sides 5 is extended near the lower turn of the coveyor 8 and carries sprockets I3 the teeth or pins of which latter engage the eyelets II successively thereby imparting movement to the conveyor 8 as the shaft I2 is turned.

A guide roller I4 of comparatively small diameter supports and guides the upper turn of the conveyor 8 so as to cause a comparatively sharp turn at the top. For score indication the conveyor is preferably so moved that the front of the conveyor moves upwardly. The point where the conveyor 8 turns from the front of the device to the rear will be hereinafter referred to as the leading end of the conveyor, and the point where the conveyor turns fromthe back toward the front of the device will be referred to as the trailing end of the conveyor.

On the conveyor 8 are secured a plurality of separate boards or flaps I6. Each ap I6 is made of a at board of suitable material such as cardboard, Wood or the like. Each flap I6 is hung by its upper leading edge in any suitable manner such as by means of a leather hinge Il sewed onto the conveyor belt 8. On the outside face of each flap I6, at the front of the conveyor 8, are suitable markings for the score, such as numerals, denoted by I8, in consecutive order on the series of said flaps. In the herein illustration the score indicator is particularly designed for use in connection with basket ball games and there may be about thirty or forty flaps with numerals from l to 30 or 40. There are two similar units or a double unit used to indicate the scores of each team. On the underside or normally hidden face of each flap I6 are markings or designs I9, preferably for advertising purposes.

The leading edges of the flaps I6 are so spaced, and the narrow turn of the leading end of the conveyor 8 is so pointed that as one flap I6 reaches near the top on the front of the conveyor 8, the next preceding flap I6 is turned and inverted at the top of the rear of the conveyor 8 as shown. Thus the uppermost flap I6 at the front is uncovered to expose to view a numeral thereon, and at the same time the underside or rear face of the next proceeding flap I6 is rendered visible as extended beyond and above the leading end of the conveyor 8 so as to expose to view the markings or advertisement I9. By suitably turning the shaft I2 the numerals and advertisings in View are consecutively changed.

The front of the frame has a cover 2I thereon to cover the front of the device except the uppermost flap I6 which latter is above the top edge of the cover 2 I. It is to be noted that the trailing ends of the flaps I6 in the front overlie the leading edges of the respective following flaps I6,

drop in line again before they are turned to theL front at the trailing end of the conveyor 8.

In operation, Whether the conveyor 8 jisheld vertically or at any other anglerthe` score cindicator is adjusted in the same manner.- Namely,

the shaft I2 is turned until a desired numeral ,v appears at the leading end of the conveyor 8,

and at the same time the rear face of 'another flap I6is visible beyond the leading end of, said conveyor. The sprockets I3 and the eyelets II are so spaced that a predetermined turn of the sprockets I3 moves the uppermost flap I6 around the leading end and from the front to the rear of the conveyor to render the rear face of the ilap I6 visible. The shaft 2 may be manipulated by a crank 23 directly. It may be operated by remote control in any suitable manner such as mechanically or electrically. A sprocket or sheave 24 on the shaft I2 is turned by a chain or wire 26 from a remote point. Ratchet mechanisms or electro-magnetic mechanisms may be connected to the shaft I2 for turning it. In all instances the authentic score canjbe readily shown and controlledr by the referee or ofcial without leaving his position.

. The embodiment illustratedl in Figuresl 4 and 5 shows the use of plates or flap 28,l made of thin metal. The upper edge of each plate 28 is-secured to a block 29 of a chain conveyor 3| by means of a vscrew bolt 32 and washers 33, one washer on each lside or face of each plate 28. Either a double chain conveyor may be usedat the opposite vertical edges of the series of plates 28, or a single chain at the middle of the plates 28 as shown. The chain is made out of the usual blocks 29r and links 34 connecting the adjacent blocks. In the herein illustration every second block 29 is utilized to carry a plate 28. The lower sprocket, not shown is larger than the top sprocket 35 which latter is suitably lconstructedV to hold a block 29 in front and another in the rear in substantially parallel positions so as to expose to view at the same time the front faceof the front uppermost plate 28 Vand the rear face of the rear uppermostplate 28. The chain conveyor is so arranged that it slants downfwardly and rearwardlyjallowing'the plates 28 in the front of the device to freely overhang the respective underlying plates 28. This type of conveyor is preferably driven for adjustment at the upper sprocket 35. v I f The flaps I6, and the plates'28 may be marked to suit the particular use ofthe device. For instance the indicia may take vthejform of lines of a song for a song chart, as indicated at 36 in Figures 4 and 5, orit may be in any other form required for a form chart or the like.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is: l. In a score board, a frarnea substantially vertical endless, upwardly converging conveyor on the frame, a series of indicating flaps on said conveyor the leading edge of each flap being connected to the conveyor, the leading edges of adjacent naps being spaced at a distance substantially equal to one-half of the circumference of the upper turn of the conveyor so that each flap is held inverted and visible beyond the end of the conveyor when it is turned from the front to the rear of the conveyor, the trailing edge of each preceding flap overlapping the next successive flap of the series when lying alongside the conveyor.

2. In a score boar-d the combination with an endless conveyor adapted to be moved intermittently in a frame, of a series of flaps hung on the conveyor by their respective leading edges and being s o spaced that when one Aflap is at the leading end of the conveyor the next preceding flap is extended from the rear and beyond said end of the conveyor in inverted position thereby to successively expose to view both faces of each flap, the trailing edge of one flap overlying the next ap when lineally advanced by the conveyor, said conveyor being held in a substantially vertical position with its leading end at the top, and the turn of the conveyor at its upper end being such that substantially one half of the circumference of the turnis equal to the spacing between two adjacent flaps on the conveyor, and said upper turn being of smaller diameter than that of the lower turn of the conveyor.

3. In combination a chain conveyor, a plurality of plates connected at their respective leading ends to spaced elements of said conveyor, said platesY and conveyor elements being so spaced that said spacing is substantially equal to one half of the circumference of the leading turn of the conveyor and two plates are held parallel at said turn, one at the front, another at the rear to ity of plates secured at their respective leadingV ends at spaced elements of said conveyor, the distance between the front and rear branch of the conveyor at the trailing end of the conveyor being larger than at the leading end thereof, said plates and conveyor elements being so spaced that two plates are held parallel at the top, one at the front, another at the rear to successively expose to view the opposite faces of each plate as the conveyor is turned, each plate having markings on both faces thereof,.said conveyor being inclined downwardly and rearwardly so that the plates on the front of the conveyor overhang by gravity the preceding plates overlapping the respective following plates.

5. In a display device of the character described a frame, a substantially vertical, endless conveyor on the frame, the upper turn of the conveyor being smaller than its lower turn so as to cause the rear and front sides of the conveyor toupwardly converge, a plurality of overlapping flaps connected to said conveyor by their respective leading edges so as to turn into inverted position at the; rear of the upper turn of the conveyor, the leading edges of adjacent flaps being spaced on the conveyor at a distance substantially equal to one half of the circumference of the upper turn of the conveyor, and a mechanism connected to said conveyor whereby intermittent movement can be imparted to said conveyor.

" OLIVER R. HARTZELL. 

